i96 
)PV 1 



PRACTICAL FACTS 
ABOUT NEW YORK 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE KNICKERBOCKER INFORMATION BUREAU 

VANDERBILT CONCOURSE OFFICES 

52 VANDERBILT AVENUE 

NEW YORK CITY 



PRACTICAL FACTS 
ABOUT NEW YORK 



BY 

HARRY A. GUIREMAND 



PUBLISHED BY 

THE KNICKERBOCKER INFORMATION BUREAU 

VANDERBILT CONCOURSK OFFICKS 

52 VANDERBILT AVENUE 

NEW YORK CITY 



r/z2 
,3 

n a/ 



COPYRIGHTED 1917 

BT 

HARRY A. GUIREMAND 



©CI.A455076 

DEC 26 1916 



^ 



INTRODUCTION 

AS ITS TITLE indicates, this booklet contains practical information 
about the great City of New York. It was written principally for 
people who are unfamiliar with New York City, but it also contains 
information which should be of interest to all Americans. Under such 
headings as Living Conditions, Cost of Living, Methods of Obtaining 
Employment, Educational Opportunities, etc., brief statements of fact are 
presented which will place the reader in possession of much useful informa- 
tion regarding America's Greatest City. The booklet also contains con- 
siderable general information as to the City's history, the location, size 
and relative importance of the different boroughs, the government of the 
City and various other matters which should be of interest. 

There are many guide books detailing New York City's attractions 
and points of interest, but, so fai" as we know, this is the only book de- 
signed to give such information about New York as is outlined above. 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 

Foreword 

History 

Boroughs 

Government 

Living Conditions 

Cost of Living 



General, 14-15 
Food Supply, 15-17 
Department Stores, 17-18 
Rents, 18-20 
Hotels, 20 
Restaurants, 20 



Employment 



General, 21-23 
Civil Service, 23-26 



PAGE 
3 

7 

7-9 

9-11 

11-12 

13 

14-20 



State Laws . 
Educational 



21-26 



26-28 

29-40 



Public Schools and Colleges, 29-33 

Public Libraries, Museums and Lectures, 33-36 

Cooper Union, 36-37 

Columbia University, 37-38 

New York University, 38-39 

General, 39-40 

Charitable and Benevolent Institutions . 

Diversion, Amusement and Recreation 

Facts and Figures 



41-43 
44-45 
46-47 



PRACTICAL FACTS 
ABOUT NEW YORK 



FOREWORD 

IN many respects New York is the greatest city in the world. Its popula- 
tion includes people of every race and creed ; its foreign commerce exceeds 
that of any other city ; it is the most important manufacturing center in 
the United States; it is the business center of the United States; it contains 
the largest banks and financial institutions in the United States, and most 
of the nation-wide enterprises are financed there ; it offers more free educa- 
tional opportunities than any other city in the world; it is the theatrical 
and fashion center of the United States, and it contains more public 
libraries, hotels and theatres than any other city. 

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE CITY 

In the month of September, 1609, Henry Hudson, a bold English 
navigator employed by the Dutch East India Company to find a north- 
west passage to India, entered the beautiful body of water now known as 
New York Harbor, viewed Manhattan Island and sailed up the great river 
which now bears his name until he reached the site of the present City of 
Albany. Although Hudson was not the first explorer to enter New York 
Hai'bor, it was largely as the result of his extensive explorations and of his 
report of his findings that the attractions of this region, and the exceptional 
opportunities which it offered of obtaining valuable furs from the Indians, 
were brought to the attention of the Old World, ultimately resulting in the 
settlement of Manhattan Island by the Dutch. Hudson therefore de- 
serves the honor of having discovered Manhattan Island, on which the 
foundations of the City of New York were laid. The settlement of the 
Island was begun by the Dutch in a small way in the year 1623, but it was 
not until two or three years afterward that settlers began to airive in con- 
siderable numbers. In 1626 the Island of Manhattan was puichased from 
the Indians by the Dutch Governor, Peter Minuet, for merchandise valued 
at about twenty-four dollars. The little settlement was given the name 
New Amsterdam, and the Dutch province of which it was the chief port 
was named New Netherlands. Although there were occasional difficulties 
with the Indians and with neighboring colonies, the settlement grew 
steadily. 



8 Practical Facts About New York 

Late in August, 1664, although England and Holland were not then at 
war, an English fleet anchored near Manhattan Island and the surrender of 
New Amsterdam was demanded. The Dutch, being taken by surprise, 
tried to parley, but early in the month of September were forced to capitu- 
late. This action on the part of England resulted from the fact that King 
Charles II of England had, in very high-handed fashion, granted to his 
brother, the Duke of York, large stretches of territory on the Atlantic Coast 
of North America, including the Dutch colony of New Netherlands, basing 
his right to do so on the ground that England was entitled to this territory 
because of the explorations of the earher English navigators. The name 
New York was given by the EngUsh to the captured town and province, 
and the inhabitants were subject to EngUsh rule for about nine years. 

In July, 1673, while England and Holland were at war. New York was 
retaken by the Dutch, and for about one year Dutch rule was restored. 
But by the terms of a treaty of peace concluded between England and 
Holland, the Dutch province in North America was ceded to England, the 
name New York was restored, and in November, 1674, EngUsh rule was 
again formally estabUshed. The colony remained under EngUsh rule for 
more than a century, during which time the colonists constantly strove for 
wider powers of self-government. There were disturbances, resulting 
chiefly from misgovernment and reUgious diff'erences, but in spite of these 
the city and province of New York continued to grow and prosper until 
the time of the American Revolution. 

During the Revolution important miUtary and naval movements took 
place and important battles were fought within or near the present limits of 
the City of New York. The City was taken by the British in September, 
1776, and was held by them throughout the period of the Revolution. 
A few days after the EngUsh occupancy a fire broke out which destroyed a 
large part of the City. 

After Washington was elected President, New York City became the 
capital of the nation for about one year, 1789-1790. 

As will be seen from the foUowing figures, the City grew rapidly after 
the Revolution. In 1800 the population was about 79,000; in 1820, 
about 152,000; in 1840, about 390,000; in 1860, more than 1,150,000; 
in 1880, about 1,900,000; in 1900, about 3,500,000; in 1910, 4,766,883. 
An enumeration made by the Police Department of New York City in 
1915 showed that the population then was 5,253,885. 

For a long time Manhattan Island (which is 133^2 miles long and about 
2)4: miles wide at its widest point) and certain smaU islands in the surround- 
ing waters marked the limits of the City of New York. In 1874 a section 
of the mainland of the State of New York immediately north of IVIan- 
hattan Island was added to the City, and in 1898, when "Greater New 
York" was formed, the City was greatly enlarged by extending its Umits 
to include additional territory on the north, the City of Brooklyn and 
various towns on the east, and the whole of Staten Island on the south. 
The State of New Jersey Ues on the west side of Manhattan Island, being 
separated from it by the Hudson River, so that the City could not be 
extended in that direction. 



Practical Facts About New York 



At present the City of New York covers an airea of 326 square miles, 
and its population as above stated is 5,253,885, The City consists of 
five Boroughs — the Borough of Manhattan, the Borough of Brookl>Ti, 
the Borough of The Bronx, the Borough of Queens and the Borough of 
Richmond. Each of these boroughs comprises a separate county of the 
State of New York. 



GENERAL STATEMENT AS TO BOROUGHS 

Tiie Borough of Manhattan: This borough (which embraces New 
York County) includes the whole of Manhattan Island and a number of 
smaller islands in the surrounding waters. It is the most important of 
all the boroughs, and is, in fact, the heart and center of the City. The 
name Manhattan was derived from a tribe of Indians — the Manhattans — 
who inhabited the surrounding country when the Dutch settlers arrived. 
In this borough are the City Hall; the Municipal Building, containing 
most of the executive offices of the various City Departments; the famous 
skyscrapers; the Financial District, centering around Wall Street; the 
Stock, Cotton, Produce, Coffee and numerous other important exchanges; 
the Theatrical District, on the "Great White Way"; the important shop- 
ping districts; the largest hotels, apartment houses, churches, museums; 
the great newspaper offices, steamship wharves, palatial private dwellings 
and many of the important pubhc buildings. Although its area is some- 
what less than 22 square miles, the population of the Borough of Man- 
hattan is 2,295,761. This borough is connected with all the other boroughs 
by subway tuimels, which pass under the rivers, by immense bridges which 
accommodate elevated railway trains and street cars as well as vehicles 
and pedestrians, and by various ferries. 

Large sections of the lower or southern part of Manhattan Island are 
occupied almost exclusively by the immense office buildings known as 
skyscrapers and by other buildings used for business purposes. Many 
of the skyscrapers contain hundreds of offices, which, during business 
hours, are occupied by thousands of office workers. Thousands of people 
who do business or are employed on Manhattan Island Uve in other sec- 
tions of the City and travel considerable distances to and from their 
work each day. And there are besides additional thousands of commuters, 
or people who hve outside the Umits of the City, but who come to Man- 
hattan Island each day for business purposes. Some of these commuters 
come from points fifty or more miles distant from IVIanhattan. This 
condition of affairs gives rise to serious transportation problems. At 
certain hours in the morning, when the great swarms of workers pour into 
the business districts of the Borough of Manhattan from all directions 
(including many thousands from the State of New Jersey), and again at 
certain hours in the evening, when these same workers return to their 
homes, the various transportation facilities of the City — subways, elevated 
railroads and street cars, as well as the suburban railroad hues — are 
overcrowded, and many men and women are forced to stand in the cars 



10 Practical Facts About New York 

for an hour or more when riding to and from their places of business on 
Manhattan Island. 

The Borough of Brooklyn: This borough comprises Kings County, and 
lies east of Manhattan Island, being separated from Manhattan by the 
East River. Before the formation of Greater New York Brooklyn was an 
important city with a mayor and government of its own. In population 
and commercial importance it ranks second to the Borough of Manhattan. 
Brooklyn derives its name from an old town in Holland — Breuckelen — 
this name having been bestowed by the early Dutch settlers upon one of 
the villages included in the limits of the present borough. Brooklyn was 
settled soon after the arrival of the Dutch on Manhattan Island, and at 
an early date was connected with Manhattcm by a ferry. The area of 
this borough is about 77^ square miles, and its population is 1,825,534. 
Three immense bridges and various subway tunnels and ferries connect 
Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Borough of Brooklyn has an extensive 
water front and excellent docking facilities. A number of steamship 
companies as well as commercial and manufacturing concerns have wharves 
along this water front. There are three or four popular bathing beaches 
(including the famous Coney Island), and various parks, racetracks and 
parkways in Brooklyn. In fact, Brooklyn is a beautiful borough, with 
wide avenues, large public buildings, numerous churches, fine hotels and 
apartment houses and handsome private residences. Fort Hamilton, one 
of the defenses of New York City, and a large Government Navy Yard 
are located in this borough. 

The Borough of The Bronx: This borough embraces Bronx County, on 
the mainland of New York State immediately to the north of Manhattan 
Island, being separated from the latter by the Harlem River, a com- 
paratively narrow stream. The Bronx derives its name from one Jonas 
Bronck, its first white settler, who took up his abode in this locahty in 
the year 1639. Part of the present borough was annexed to New York 
City in 1874, and the remainder was added to the City in 1898. This 
borough covers about 403/^ square miles and its population is 649,726. 
Because of its proximity to Manhattan Island, and the direct transporta- 
tion facilities which exist between the two boroughs, The Bronx has been 
rapidly developed in the last decade. Although some manufacturing is 
carried on in The Bronx, it is primarily a residential borough. It has not 
the long rows of wharves and factories that are to be seen in Manhattan 
and Brooklyn. The Bronx has some very attractive residential sections, 
but the larger part of the borough is covered with apartment houses which 
shelter the middle and poorer classes. This borough contains the three 
largest parks in the City. Numerous bridges and a subway tunnel connect 
the Bronx with Manhattan. 

The Borough of Queens: This borough comprises Queens County, 
lying to the east of Manhattan Island and separated from it by the East 
River. The first white settlers in this region were Dutch farmers, who 
began to arrive as early as 1637. The Borough of Queens derives its 
name from old Queens County, which was formed by the English of towns 
located in or near the present borough. This borough embraces various 



Practical Facts About New York 11 

old towns on the western end of Long Island, and also includes Long Island 
City, in which there are a number of large factories. The area of this 
borough is about 1293^2 miles, and its population is 389,233. Being less 
thickly populated than the three boroughs previously referred to. Queens 
still has within its borders numerous pretty homesteads, as well as a number 
of interesting old landmarks. Two or three popular bathing resorts are 
in this borough. Queens is connected with Manhattan by the Queens- 
borough Bridge, the longest passenger bridge in the City, by subway 
tunnels, by ferry, by railroad and by various surface car lines which cross 
the Queensborough Bridge. It also is accessible through the Borough 
of Brooklyn by means of a number of street car lines and elevated r£iil- 
roads. The Borough of Queens is in process of development and is grow- 
ing rapidly. 

The Borough of Richmond: This borough and the county of the same 
name comprise the whole of Staten Island, which is situated in New York 
Bay, about five miles south of Manhattan Island. Staten Island received 
its name from Henry Hudson, who named it "Staaten Eylandt" in honor 
of the States General of the Netherlands. After the English came into 
possession of Manhattan Island and the surrounding territory Staten 
Island became Richmond County. The Borough of Richmond has an 
area of some 57 square miles and its population is 93,631. It is the least 
thickly settled of the boroughs comprising the City of New York. In it 
there are stiU open fields, woodlands, winding roads and old homesteads. 
The long rows of apartment houses which are an ever-present feature of 
the other boroughs have not as yet made their appearance in this borough 
to any great extent. From the heights on the north end of Staten Island 
a magnificent view can be had of Upper New York Bay, and in the distance 
can be seen the imposing Statue of Liberty. Fort Wadsworth, one of 
the important defenses of New York City, is located on Staten Island. 
There are also various bathing beaches in this borough. The Borough of 
Richmond is connected with Manhattan by an excellent Municipal Ferry, 
employing the largest and fastest ferryboats in the world. 



A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY 

The most important administrative officers of the City are the Mayor, 
the Comptroller, the President of the Board of Aldermen and the Borough 
Presidents. 

The Mayor is the chief executive officer of the City. His responsibilities 
and powers are very great. The people generally look upon him as the 
man responsible for the manner in which the City is governed. The Mayor 
is empowered to appoint and remove a large number of important City 
officials, and also is empowered to appoint a number of City Magistrates 
and Judges. He has the power of veto over bills passed by the Legislature 
of the State of New York relating to the affairs of New York City, as well 
as over ordinances passed by the Board of Aldermen of the City of New 
York. 



12 Practical Facts About New York 

The Comptroller has general supervision over the City's finances, and 
is a member of a number of important committees and commissions. 

The President of the Board of Aldermen presides over the Board of 
Aldermen and has other important duties. When the Mayor is absent 
for any considerable period of time, or when the Mayor's office becomes 
vacant, the President of the Boaid of Aldermen is Acting Mayor. 

The Borough Presidents (of which there are five — one for each borough) 
administer the local affairs of their separate boroughs and have general 
supervision over all kinds of local improvements. 

All of the officials referred to above are elected every four years, the 
Mayor, Comptroller and President of the Board of Aldermen by the City at 
large, and the Borough Presidents by the voters of their separate boroughs. 

The important administrative and legislative bodies of the City are 
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment and the Board of Aldermen, 
and in the determination of certain important matters joint action by these 
two Boards is necessary. 

The Board of Estimate and Apportionment is composed of the Mayor 
(who is the Chairman of the Board), the Comptroller, the President of 
the Board of Aldermen and the five Borough Presidents. This Board has 
been described as the "Board of Directors of New York City." It shapes 
the financial poUcies of the City, decides on the granting of franchise 
privileges and has many other important functions and powers. 

The Board of Aldermen is the legislative assembly of the City. It 
passes ordinances and resolutions effective in the City and has numerous 
other functions and powers. The Aldermen are elected every two years. 
The entire City has been divided into Aldermanic Districts. There are 
at present 73 Aldermen, representing as many districts. The five Borough 
Presidents also are members of the Board of Aldermen, and each head of 
a city department is entitled to a seat in the Board but has no vote. 

The judicial branch of the city government is represented by an 
elaborate system of criminal and civil comts, from some of which appeals 
can be taken to the higher State courts. The City also has various 
courts set aside for special purposes, such as Night Courts, Domestic Rela- 
tions Courts, a Children's Court and also a court for the hearing of cases 
involving the various city departments. Many of the j udges of the various 
courts in the City are elected, but more than fifty magistrates and judges 
are appointed by the Mayor. 

At present twenty-nine separate city departments and about 100,^000 
employees of all grades are required to carry on the afl'airs of New York 
City. 




I*RACTiCAL Facts About New York 13 

I. 

LIVING CONDITIONS IN THE CITY 

Persons who come to New York from the country or from villages, 
towns and small cities find surroundings and hving conditions radically 
diflFerent from those obtaining in the places from which they came. Instead 
of wide, tree-shaded roads and avenues, homes set in the midst of gardens, 
and the restful quiet to be found in smaller communities, New York City 
presents narrow streets, lined with rows of large brick and stone buildings, 
and continuous noise during the day and far into the night. 

The density of population in the City on July 1, 1916, as estimated by 
the Department of Health was 28.4 people per acre. In two of the boroughs 
which are just being developed the density of population is a great deal less, 
but in the Boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn it is a great deal higher. 
The estimated average density of population in Manhattan is more than 
199 people per acre, and in Brooklyn it is almost 50 per acre. In some 
wards in the Borough of Manhattan which contain mostly tenement 
houses, the number of people per acre is in excess of 600, and the Borough 
of Brooklyn has districts where the density is considerably over 150 people 
per acre. 

This density of population makes it necessai'y for a very large per- 
centage of the residents of the City to live in apEu-tment houses of various 
kinds and grades. These apartment houses have accommodations for 
from three to thirty or more families. The number of rooms in each 
separate apartment varies from 2 to 10 or more. Only in the best grade 
ap£u:tment houses, however, can apartments with 10 or more rooms be 
had. The average middle class apartment has five or six rooms and bath. 
In some of the older houses each apartment has one or more dark rooms. 
There are almost interminable rows of apartment houses of the various 
grades. These houses often are built close together so that they present 
a solid front on the street. For the purpose of admitting air and at least 
some light to the inner rooms, they are provided with air shafts which 
extend through the center and sometimes open out to small back yards. 

Small houses with gardens can be had in the outlying sections of the 
City and in the suburbs, but seldom less and often more than eight or 
ten miles from the important business districts. For people who work 
in the business districts there is the inconvenience of spending an hour 
or more on the crowded cars in the morning and evening while going to 
and from work. 



14 Practical Facts About New York 



II. 

COST OF LIVING IN THE CITY 

(Including information regarding Food Supply, Rents, etc.) 

The Central Mercantile Association of New York, which numbers 
among its members many influential business men, has made an industrial 
survey of the City, and in its report of the results of this survey appears 
the following interesting statement regarding the cost of living in New 
York City: 

"The impression is very general, and accepted without question, that 
New York City has a very high cost of Uving, and that this high cost is 
the principal handicap to its industrial advance. A rapid study has been 
made during the present survey to test the general soundness of this 
impression. 

"The basis for the study is the very carefully tabulated and analyzed 
information contained in the reports of the United States Bureau of 
Labor on the average budgets of workmen's families and on the a%erage 
retail store prices for products. The average expenditures of workmen's 
famihes as ascertained from these reports bear the following relations: 

Food 45% 

Rent 20% 

Clothing 14% 

Other expenses 21% 

"The reports on food prices made by the Bureau do not substantiate 
the general impression as to high prices in New York. In only three 
cities in the Eastern Group are food prices shown to be lower than in 
New York, viz: Buffalo, Richmond and Baltimore. These are all cities 
having very special advantages in market systems and water transporta- 
tion to unusually well developed agriculturtd districts in the immediate 
neighborhood. All of the other cities of the east show a higher average 
price than New York. 

"In view of the way in which this result contradicts general impression, 
it may be well to state again that the conclusion rests upon a very carefully 
collected body of figures issued by the Federal Government, figures which 
were secured and tabulated by expert investigators. In all cases the 
quotations are actual sale prices, taken from a considerable number of 
stores in each city of the type at which workmen generally deal, and 
carefully selected so as to give an even basis for comparison. The returns 
were worked into one final amount giving the total cost of foods for the 
average family budget, which, in turn, has been ascertained from the 
actual accounts of thousands of workmen's families of which a special 
study was made. It is from this final figure of total food cost for the 
average family that the above comparison is made. 

"In clothing, New York is commonly understood to have the ad\ antage 
in economy over most other cities. This has been borne out by reports 
from the two general studies that have come under observation. It 
probably may be safely assumed, therefore, that clothing costs are at least 
no higher than the average for other cities. Miscellaneous expenses for 
papers, amusements, doctors' bills, etc., run much the same everywhere. 

"Taking the four important sections of the family budget therefore — 
food, rent, clothing and miscellaneous — New York is not al>o\e the average 
in the three sections, food, clothing and miscellaneous. The only section 



Practical Facts About New York l-^ 

in which higher necessary cost of living can come, therefore, is in the 
rental section. It is frankly admitted by real estate men consulted, who 
know a number of cities, that rentals in New York are higher than in 
most other places. The difference is said, however, to be greatly exagger- 
ated in the minds of most people. It would be an important and interest- 
ing section of special study in a social survey to make an actual com- 
parison of apartments of the various principal types in several districts of 
New York City, in comparison with similar facilities in similar localities 
in other cities. Assuming, however, that New York is at a considerable dis- 
advantage in regard to this item, it cannot have the effect of raising the 
family budget of the New York workman very greatly above that of other 
cities. Rent constituting 20% only of the total budget, a 25% higher rental 
in New York City would mean a larger total family budget of only 5%. 
This would be an unimportant amount if compared to even slightly higher 
wages, greater opportunities of steady employment, or greater opportunity 
for advemcement, by reason of New York's greater labor market." 

In connection with the foregoing, it may be pointed out that persons 
who come to New York from smaller communities will find that in the 
City carfares are an item to be taken into consideration. The vast majority 
of New Yorkers must employ the various transportation facilities of the 
City in going to and from work and in traveling about the City on business 
or pleasure. Therefore in the course of a month the expenditure for car- 
fares sometimes assumes considerable proportions. The fare charged on 
the subways, surface cars and elevated railways is five cents for one con- 
tinuous ride in one direction. In many instances free transfers are given 
on surface cars running north and south to surface cars running east and 
west and vice versa. The elevated railway systems do not generally transfer 
to the subways or surface cars, nor do the latter transfer to the elevated 
railways. Persons living in the outlying boroughs often have to pay two 
or more fares each day to get to and from their places of business in Man- 
hattan; and for persons Uving in the suburbs the daily expenditure for car- 
fare often is considerably more. 

Although clothing of all kinds can be purchased in New York as cheaply 
as elsewhere, because of the importance placed upon clothes in New \ ork 
residents of the City are incUned to spend more for clothing than do 
people who Uve in the country or in small towns and cities. In a small 
community where people know one another clothes are not such an 
important factor, but in New York City clothes often are taken as an index 
to a person's taste and financial condition, especially in business, and 
therefore Ncav Yorkers generally find it expedient to dress as well as 
possible. 

Because of the numerous and varied amusements offered in the City 
few people who come to New York find it possible to resist the temptation 
of spending more for amusement and recreation than they would else- 
where. 

Food Supply 

In may be stated as a general proposition that foodstuffs of all varieties 
can be purchased as cheaply in New York City as elsewhere in the L nited 
States. Of course, in certain localities, because of local conditions, special 



16 Practical Facts About New York 

kinds of foodstuffs may be purchased more cheaply than they could 
be purchased in New York, but taking into consideration a large variety 
of foodstuffs of every description, the foregoing should be a safe assertion. 
The City offers such an immense and steady market, and the wholesale 
dealers in the City can purchase in such large quantities, that New York 
gets the first and best of almost everything in the Une of foodstuffs. The 
residents of smaller communities, depending largely on the farms of the 
immediate vicinity to supply their daily fresh food needs, do not get nearly 
so wide an assortment of fresh foodstuffs — meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, 
fruits and berries — as do the residents of New York, for New York draws 
upon all parts of the country and the world for its food supply. A con- 
siderable time before the residents of villages, towns and small cities in 
the northern and middle states can enjoy the vegetables and fruits grown 
in those localities, the hot-house farmers and the large produce and fruit 
growers of the southern states have supplied the New York market with 
such vegetables and fruits at moderate prices. The fertile Hudson ^'alIey, 
Long Island and the State of New Jersey within a radius of more than 
100 miles of New York City also supply the City with immense quantities 
of fresh fruits, vegetables and berries in season. 

The large Chicago packing concerns have slaughterhouses in New 
York City to which live cattle, sheep and hogs are shipped for killing, 
thus insuring New Yorkers a fresh meat supply. Great quantities of fresh 
poultry are shipped to New York from different parts of the country, and 
immense quantities of poultry also are stored for use as required in the 
numerous large cold-storage houses. A considerable part of the fish and 
other sea food consumed in New York comes from the waters near the 
City, but large quantities of such food also are received from northern 
and southern waters. 

There are large wholesale and retail markets in the City where produce 
of all kinds is sold to storekeepers and retail buyers. Within recent years 
a number of retail markets have been opened in the congested districts 
on City property under the large bridges, where farmers from Long Island 
and other places near New York, as well as small retail dealers, display 
their products for sale to the general public. In the poorer districts 
"push-cart" peddlers abound. The small carts of these peddlers, loaded 
with all kinds of foodstuffs, line the streets and avenues of certain sections 
of the poorer districts, and offer a convenient market for the residents of 
those districts. Peddlers whose equipment consists of a horse and cart 
also pass through the residential sections of the City offering vegetables and 
fruits for sale in season. 

The City obtains its milk supply from hundreds of dairies and farms, 
some of which are located more than 200 miles from the City, Most of 
the milk is shipped to New York by rail. The residents of the City con- 
sume about 2,225,000 quarts of milk per day, almost all of which must 
come from points outside the City limits. The Department of Health 
inspects all milk sold in the City, and all individuals or firms who soil milk 
in New York must receive a written permit from this Department. In- 
spectors from the Health Department make tests from time to time of the 



Practical Facts About New York 17 

milk sold in the difl'erent stores. There are a number of large milk com- 
panies in New York who deliver milk and cream in bottles at house doors. 
The milk usually is delivered early in the morning, being distributed 
throughout the City in wagons. Various grades of milk are sold, some 
of which may be used only for cooking and manufacturing purposes. 
Much of the milk and cream sold in the City is pastemized. The Depart- 
ment of Health inspects aU pasteurizing plants where milk and cream are 
treated for subsequent sale in New York, whether such plants are located 
within or without the City limits. The price of milk delivered in quart 
bottles varies from 11 cents per quart for a good grade of milk, to 15 
cents or more per quart for milk of extra fine quaUty. Milk of good 
quality can, however, be purchased in stores for 8 cents per quart. 

In all residential sections of the City the important avenues and streets 
are lined with retail stores of every description, including many which 
supply the food needs of the local population — butcher stores, fish stores, 
grocery stores, fruit and vegetable stands, bakeries, dairies and delicatessen 
stores. In most of these stores a surprising variety of food is displayed 
for the choice of the purchaser. Such commodities as coffee, tea, sugar, 
dried fruits and vegetables and canned goods, may of course be had in 
abundance at all times at moderate prices. 

For the person with Epicurean tastes, and with sufficient income to 
gratify them, New York offers every luxury. There are numerous large 
provision stores offering all kinds of choice meats, poultry, fish and game, 
and there are also numerous select grocery stores which carry in stock all 
the domestic and imported delicacies. 

The Health Department also inspects the food, drug and water supply 
of the City and enforces the strict laws and ordinances relative thereto, 
as well as sanitary laws, laws relating to the preservation of health and the 
care and protection of life. This Department also investigates and, when 
justified, takes action on complaints from citizens concerning conditions 
that are detrimental to the public health. 

The residents of New York City are supplied with an abundance of 
pure water, which is drawn from points many miles distant from the City 
limits. At present an elaborate system of reservous and aqueducts is 
in course of construction. This system will draw water from the region 
of the Katskill Mountains about 100 miles north of the City, and is de- 
signed to provide for the water supply of New York for years to come. Most 
of the water used in New York is supplied by the City, but in the Boroughs 
of Brooklyn, Queens and Richmond some water is suppUed by private 
water companies. 

Department Stores 

The great department stores of the City offer to retail buyers a mar- 
velous variety of merchandise of every description at moderate prices. 
These stores occupy immense buildings, and derive their name from the 
fact that they are divided into departments for the selling of special 
lines of goods. They have separate departments containing complete 
lines of clothing for men, women and children, dress goods, linens, woolens. 



18 Practical Facts About NE\^ York 

muslins, and, in fact, every variety of wearing apparel and material, 
house furnishings of all kinds, jewelry, art works, foodstuffs, sporting goods, 
notions, various kinds of patented devices, machinery, tools, books, 
plants, seeds, etc., toys, stationery and a great many other things. Many 
of these large stores have savings banks, restaurants and lunch rooms, 
lecture rooms, soda fountains, photographic galleries, telephone booths 
and various other conveniences for their patrons. In fact, the department 
stores render a surprising amount of service. AU of them, without charge 
to the purchaser, dehver merchandise to any part of the City and for con- 
siderable distances outside the City hmits, no matter how small or great 
a quantity is purchased. Some of the department stores carry charge 
accounts, allowing customers who have been found dependable to buy 
merchandise without paying for it at the time of purchase and dehvery. 
To these customers bills generally are rendered monthly. As they can 
purchase in very large quantities, the department stores often are able to 
offer to the public all kinds of merchandise at considerably reduced prices. 
All of these stores insert large display advertisements in the daily papers. 
The department stores usually are grouped together in the various 
shopping districts of the City, thus making it convenient for slioppers 
to visit a number of them in a comparatively short time. 

Rents 

Because of the exceptionaUy high land values, created by the presence 
of so many people in an area comparatively small, the rents in New 
York City undoubtedly are somewhat higher than in other cities. As 
already pointed out a majority of the people in the City Uve in apartment 
buildings of various grades. The cheapest grade apartment buildings are 
locally known as "tenements"; apartment buildings which offer space at 
moderate rentals but are better located and offer better accommodations 
than the tenements are generally referred to as "flats;" the more modern 
and better equipped buildings of this type are known as " apaitments " 
or "apartment houses." 

The tenement houses are very undesirable places in which to live, 
being located in the poorer and crowded districts of the City. They 
are occupied in large part by foreigners. Apartments of from two to six 
rooms can be had in these houses at rentals varying from about $8.00 to 
about $18.00 per month. The rooms generally are very small and not 
infrequently some are dark. Many of the tenement houses offer few con- 
veniences or improvements and are not equipped with the best sanitary 
devices. In some of the more modern tenements the occupants are sup- 
plied with hot water. 

The flat houses offer apartments of from three to eight rooms at fairly 
moderate rentals. It is difficult in the Borough of Manhattan to obtain 
a smaU flat or apartment containing from four to six rooms and bath for 
less than $25.00 or $30.00 per month. Consequently many families of 
moderate means find it desirable to live in one of the other boroughs, 
where land is less valuable than in Manhattan and where, as a result. 



Practical Facts About New York 19 

rents aie cheaper. In the other boroughs the minimum rents for flats such as 
described range from about $14.00 to $25.00 per month, according to location, 
accommodations, etc. Steam-heated flats are as a rule somewhat more ex- 
pensive. In most of the flats tenants are, however, supphed with hot water. 

The apartment houses (of which there are various grades) usually 
are to be found in the better sections of the City. The more moderate 
priced apaitment houses offering steam heat, hot water supply and tele- 
phone service rent for from about $420.00 to $540.00 per annum. In the 
better grade apartment houses, located in the best residential sections of 
the City, and offering elevator service, telephone service, steam heat, hot 
water, laiger rooms and better equipment, the rents are high, ranging 
from about $600.00 per annum upward to $10,000.00 per annum or more, 
depending, of comse, upon location, accommodations, size and number 
of rooms and conveniences offered. Some of the apartments in the high 
grade houses of this type contain 12 or more rooms and three or four 
baths, and offer every modern convenience. 

All the apartment buildings in the City, from the lowest to the highest 
grade, come under the jurisdiction of the Tenement House Department 
of the City. No new apartment house may be erected, or no existing 
apartment building altered, or no building of any kind may be converted 
into an apartment building unless the plans and specifications for the work 
in contemplation have first been approved by the Tenement House 
Department. This Department sees to it that the rigid laws and ordi- 
nances as to fireproofing, ventilation and light and sanitary equipment 
are properly observed in the construction of buildings of this kind. All 
the apartment buildings in the City are regularly inspected by inspectors 
from the Tenement House Department to make sure that all the require- 
ments of law are strictly observed. 

In the Borough of Manhattan the minimum rentals for private houses 
containing from eight to twelve rooms range from about $60.00 to $150.00 
per month, and the rentals for large private houses located in the fashion- 
able parts of the borough range from about $200.00 per month upward. 
In the other boroughs the rents for private houses generally are materially 
less. Outside the Borough of Manhattan there are also numerous two- 
and three-family houses, sections of which may be had for from $25.00 
per month upward. 

The rentals for furnished rooms in New York vary according to the 
size of the room, furnishings and the locality in which the house is situated. 
Small hall rooms, just large enough to hold a bed, chiffonier and one or 
two chairs, may be had for from $2.00 per week upward. For larger and 
better furnished rooms the rentals, of course, are greater. There are 
boarding houses where a small room and board may be had as low as 
$5.00 per week, but these are not always desirable. Good accommodations 
and food seldom can be had for less than $6.00 per week. There are various 
institutions such as the Y. M. C. A., Y. W. C. A., working girls' clubs 
and other similar institutions where good living accommodations may be 
had at moderate rentals and where excellent restaurant facilities are 
provided at moderate rates. 



20 Practical Facts About New York 

A plan followed by some people is to rent a small furnished room and 
get meals at one of the moderate-priced restaurants which abound in all 
parts of the City. Most of these restaurants make special prices for regular 
customers. 

Hotels 

New York City is famous for the number and quality of its hotels. 
The large fashionable hotels, of which there are many, are beautifully 
furnished and offer their guests every modern convenience and luxury. 
In some of these hotels the minimum charge for a single room with bath 
is $2.00 or $2.50 per day, without meals, and for larger and better accom- 
modations the charges range very much higher. Meals in these hotels 
also are expensive. There are, however, a great number of excellent hotels 
in which a single room can be had for a dollar per day or for $1.50 per 
day with bath. Most of the hotels make special rates for guests who stay 
for extended periods and for permanent guests. Numerous cheaper 
hotels offer rooms at 50 cents, 75 cents and $1.00 per day. There are in 
the City three Mills Hotels, exclusively for men. In two of these, rooms 
may be had for 20 cents or 30 cents per day, and in the other (which 
offers better accommodations and is more centrally located) the rooms are 
30 cents and 40 cents per day. Good meals may be had in these hotels 
for 25 cents each and less. The Mills Hotels were built by Mr. D. 0. Mills, 
a wealthy philanthropist. They are generally self-supporting. The 
largest of these hotels has more than 1,875 bedrooms. One large hotel in 
the City accepts only women as guests. There also are apartment hotels 
which offer apartments of two or more rooms and which have restaurant 
facilities. 

Restaurants 

There are thousands of restaurants scattered all over the City. They 
include the luxurious eating places on Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in 
which the prices are extremely high, and the buffet lunchrooms, in which 
the prices are very moderate. Excellent restaurants supplying good meals 
for 75 cents or $1.00 are numerous. More moderate priced restaurants 
offering regular meals (usually consisting of meat or fish, potatoes, vege- 
table, dessert and a beverage) for 25 cents or 30 cents and upward can 
be found in all parts of the City. There are also thousands of quick 
lunchrooms, many of which are located in the business districts. These 
lunchrooms ofl'er a great variety of dishes. Few of the dishes cost more 
than 25 cents and most of them cost from 10 cents to 20 cents. In the 
buffet lunchrooms, of which there are also a great many, patrons serve 
themselves from counters on which the food is displayed. These lunch- 
rooms usually are fitted out with long rows of chairs, each chair having a 
wide arm on the right hand side on which to place the food while eating. 
In lunchrooms of this type there are offered sandwiches, pies, puddings, 
various kinds of cake and beverages, each item being five or ten cents. 
The majority of such lunchrooms also prepare special dishes consisting 
of meat or fish and vegetable costing from 10 cents to 25 cents each. Many 
of the buffet lunchrooms are open day and night. 



Practical Facts About New York 21 

III. 

EMPLOYMENT 

Because it is such a great business, financial, commercial and manu- 
facturing center. New York City offers a wide field for the most varied 
business activity as well as for employment. It should be remembered, 
however, that the City attracts many ambitious and capable people from 
all parts of the country and of the world, and there are thousands of such 
people in the City who are determined to excel and who are constantly 
planning and devising means for success and attainment; so that to be 
signally successful in New York City a person generally must be excep- 
tionally capable. Work is done at high tension in New York, and the 
New York employer requires of his employees that they be not only 
thorough but quick. In smaller communities an employee who does his 
work acceptably, even though he shows no marked ability or initiative, 
often can hold a position indefinitely, but in New York City, where 
competition is very keen, employers generally expect that their employees 
steadily improve, keep informed of all developments in their line of 
business and show initiative, resource and capacity to assume greater 
responsibiUties. 

In some cities preference is given to native sons. This is not the case 
in New York, as the population of the City is in large part composed of 
people from all sections of the country and of the world. New York 
employers do not so often ask "Where do you come from?" or "Who are 
you.^" as "What can you do?" 

Salaries and wages in New York City are at least as high as those paid 
in most other large cities and certainly higher than those generally paid 
in towns and small cities; and the opportunities for advancement in almost 
all lines of business are practically unlimited for people of capacity and 
initiative. 

The hours of work in many offices are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In others 
they are somewhat longer — from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and in some 
instances even from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. An hour usually is granted for 
luncheon. During the summer months Saturday is observed as a half 
holiday, and within recent years it is beginning to be very generally 
observed as such all through the year by a great many large business houses 
in the City. In the case of factory workers, shop workers, mechanics, 
laborers, etc., the eight-hour day is very generally observed in New 
York. 

Obtaining Employment in the City 

Many people unfamiliar with conditions in New York have the impres- 
sion that, because the City is so large and is the center of the business 
activity of the country, it necessarily must be easy to obtain employment 
1 here. Undoubtedly in the course of a year hundreds of people who have 



22 Practical Facts About New York 

this impression come to New York, and because they have no relatives 
or friends in the City to advise and assist them, or because they lack 
sufficient funds upon which to live during the weeks when they are seeking 
employment, they fail in their purpose of gaining a footing in the City. 
It must be remembered that competition is very keen in New York. Some- 
times people with special abilities obtain employment quickly, but people 
who have no special attainments very often search for employment for 
weeks without obtaining it. The best that can be done in the way of 
assisting people desirous of obtaining employment in New York is to point 
out the various means and methods by which employment may be obtained. 
Information along these lines will be found below: 

Sometimes excellent positions are obtained by answering the " Employees 
Wanted" or "Help Wanted" advertisements which are inserted each day 
in the various newspapers of the City. These advertisements generally 
appear in the morning papers. While the answering of such advertisements 
is well worth the while of anyone desirous of obtaining employment, results 
are not always certain, and often, especially during times of business de- 
pression, an applicant must write many letters before receiving even a 
promising reply or a request to call for an interview. To avoid being 
troubled with interviewing the scores of appHcants who generally respond 
to their advertisements, employers usually have all answers sent to a letter- 
box in the newspaper office. Such boxes generally are designated only 
by a number and letter. By following this plan, employers can look over 
the answers received to their advertisements, select those answers which 
indicate that the appUcants meet with the requirements of the position 
to be filled, and write only to such apphcants to call for an interview. 
The applicant who answers such "want" advertisements therefore seldom 
knows to whom he is writing and has no means of getting in touch with 
the advertiser unless the letter of appUcation is answered. 

The newspapers of the City also carry advertisements under the 
heading "Situations Wanted," which afford persons desiring employment 
an opportunity to set forth their qualifications to employers. If worded 
properly, such advertisements frequently bring results. The charge for 
advertisements of this kind is comparatively moderate. An insertion of 
five lines, each line containing six or seven words, can be had for one day 
for one dollar or less, depending upon the paper selected. Many trade 
journals are published in New York, and persons desiring employment in 
special lines of work frequently can employ these journals to advantage. 
ff- There are in the City a great many private employment agencies, which 
often are able to obtain good positions for applicants. Many of these 
agencies advertise in the newspapers. Employment agencies are licensed 
by the Department of Licenses of the City of New York, and there is a 
State Law indicating how they shall be regulated and what fees they may 
charge. The books of these agencies are subject to inspection by Inspectors 
of the Department of Licenses. Private employment agencies are not 
permitted to charge unskilled workers more than 10% of the first month's 
wages, and the charges for obtaining positions for other applicants for 
employment must not exceed the amount of the first week's wages, except 



Practical Facts About New York 23 

when the period of employment is for at least one year, and at a yearly 
salary, in which event the gross fee charged shall not exceed 5% of the 
first year's salary. When the employment is of a temporary nature, and 
does not exceed in any single contract one month, then the fee must not 
exceed 10% of the salary paid. The proprietors or managers of private 
employment agencies who overcharge persons for whom they obtain em- 
ployment are liable to heavy fine and in some instances to imprisonment. 
If an applicant for help or employment does not obtain help or receive 
employment through the agency to which he has appUed, any fee that he 
paid in advance to the agency must be returned to him in full within 
three days. Private employment agencies must give any appUcant for 
employment a receipt for any fees paid by him. Apphcants who have 
ground for complaint against any licensed employment agency or bureau 
may apply to the Commissioner of Licenses of the City and obtain a 
hearing. Some of the employment agencies and bureaus specialize in 
obtaining employment for office workers, and others obtain positions only 
for domestics and unskilled workers. 

The City of New York also operates a Pubhc Employment Bureau, 
with branch offices in various parts of the City. This bureau renders 
service to employers and employees absolutely without cost to either. 
Employers who are in need of assistants register with the bureau, and 
apphcants for employment are required to fill out blanks, giving name, 
age, education, experience, names of former employers, references, etc. 
Positions are obtained for both skilled and unskilled workers — for persons 
in the building, mechanical and technical trades; engineering, agricultural, 
hotel, mercantile, professional, restaurant and transportation help ; stenogra- 
phers, bookkeepers, and laborers for light and heavy work. Only rehable 
and temperate applicants who can furnish A-1 references are given con- 
sideration. The Bureau has done excellent service since it was established 
in 1914. Of course, it cannot obtain positions for all who apply, but it 
has been successful in placing a good percentage of its applicants. 

The State of New York conducts free employment bureaus in various 
parts of the State, for the purpose of bringing together all kinds and 
classes of workmen in search of employment and employers seeking labor. 
One branch is located in the Borough of Brooklyn. This bureau also obtains 
employment for both skilled and unskilled workers, professional people 
and office assistants, and also has placed a good percentage of its apphcants. 

Fr^e employment agencies for both men and women also are conducted by 
the various settlement houses and other philanthropic institutions in the City. 

The Young Men's Christian Association and other similar institutions 
operate employment bureaus. The fees charged by these institutions for 
registering applicants are very moderate. They often are able to obtain 
excellent positions for applicants. 

Civil Service 

Many attractive Civil Service positions are to be had in New York 
City. The City employs about 100,000 people, including executives, 
technical men, office workers, teachers, policemen, firemen, street cleaners, 



24 Practical Facts About New York 

laborers, etc. More than 20,000 United States Government employees 
are stationed within the Hmits of the City, as well as about 5,000 employees 
of the State of New York. A large percentage of the positions in all three 
branches of the pubUc service above referred to may be obtained by 
passing Civil Service examinations. The examinations given by the City, 
the State and the Federal Government to applicants for employment 
are in all respects fair. In most instances specimen questions given 
at previous examinations can be obtained. All three branches issue pam- 
phlets giving detailed information regarding the examinations, questions 
asked, rating of papers, passing marks, requirements for admission to 
examinations and other particulars. 

The City or Municipal Government requires that all applicants for 
positions in the Municipal service be citizens of the United States and 
residents of the State of New York at the time of fihng appUcation. 
Occasionally the latter requirement is waived, but then it is provided 
that applicants who are appointed become residents of New York State 
prior to the date of their appointment. 

The State of New York requires that applicants for examination by 
the State Civil Service Commission be citizens of the United States and 
residents of the State of New York for at least three months just prior 
to the date of the examination. On rare occasions the requirements as to 
citizenship are waived. 

With regard to the Federal Civil Service, apphcants are required to 
be citizens of the United States. Apphcants for Federal positions who 
desire to be appointed in New York City, need not be residents of the City 
or State of New York at the time of taking the examination or after 
appointment. 

The requirements as to citizenship in all three branches of the public 
service are very much ahke. Apphcants who claim to be born in the 
United States make oath to that effect in their applications; naturaUzed 
citizens must submit their naturaUzation papers; minors who claim 
citizenship through the natm'alization of a parent must supply the parent's 
naturalization papers and in some instances affidavits establishing the 
relationship; women who claim citizenship through marriage must, in 
instances where the husband is a naturalized citizen, submit his papers, 
and where the husband is native born, oath to that effect must be made, 
and the Federal Government requires that the marriage certificate and 
certain affidavits be submitted. 

In all three divisions of the public service mentioned above (Municipal, 
State and Federal), apphcants are required to be of good moral character 
and physically qualified to perform the duties which would be required of 
them if appointed. Each applicant must have his application signed by 
persons who certify as to his character and ability. These persons, known 
as vouchers, must be twenty-one years of age or over (either male or 
female), not related to the appUcant. 

The City requires four such vouchers, who must be residents of or have 
a place of business in New York City, and provides that no person who 
keeps a Uquor saloon may act as a voucher. 



Practical Facts About New York 25 

The State requires three such vouchers, who must have known the 
applicant for at least one year, and must be well acquainted with the 
experience, abihty and character of the appUcant. 

The Federal Government requires two vouchers. There are no restric- 
tions as to residence of the persons who sign as vouchers, but it is required 
that they shall have been acquainted with the applicant not less than six 
months. 

Applicants for examination in all three branches of the public service 
are required to swear to the truth of the statements made in the applica- 
tions. 

Certain age limits aie prescribed for all Civil Service examinations. 
These limits vary, depending upon the nature of the work. Sometimes 
the minimum age limit is seventeen years and sometimes no maximum 
age limit is stated. For a number of the examinations the maximum age 
Hmit is 40 years. 

The passing mark in Ci\dl Service examinations usually is 70%. Gen- 
ercJly there are certain subjects of an examination in which applicants 
must receive at least a certain minimum percentage or their papers will 
not be rated, no matter how well they may have done in other subjects 
of the examination. The names of all applicants receiving a general 
average of 70% or over are placed on an eligible list, those having the high- 
est percentages appearing at the head of the list and consequently receiving 
the first chance of appointment. As a rule eligible lists are in force one 
year, but sometimes they are extended to run for longer periods. The fact 
that a person's name appears on an eligible list for a Civil Service position 
does not always mean that employment is certain, for so many applicants 
take the various Civil Service examinations that in many instances em- 
ployment is doubtful unless a good percentage is obtained. Sometimes 
even those applicants who stand well up on a list must wait weeks and 
even months before an appointment is received. Appointments usually are 
made at minimum salaries for the various positions, but this does not 
hold good in all cases. To test their fitness. Civil Service employees are 
appointed for a probationary period of three months in the City and 
State Service and one year in the United States Government Service. 
Employees retained after the probationary period has expired are per- 
manently appointed. A Civil Service employee may be dismissed only 
for very good reasons, which must be fully stated in writing. The 
employee concerned is informed of the reasons presented and is given an 
opportunity to reply and make explanation. 

Civil Service employees generally receive at least a living wage, and 
in many instances are better paid than persons doing a similar grade of 
work for private concerns. 

Due to deaths, resignations, dismissals and to the constant creation of 
new pubHc bureaus and departments (especially in the City and State 
governments) there are frequent changes in and additions to the personnel 
of the great body of Civil Service employees located in the City of New 
York. Hence examinations are held frequently and persons able to qualify 
with a high percentage have a good chance of obtaining appointments. 



26 Practical Facts About New York 

Positions paying from about $600.00 to $1,500.00 per annum are the most 
numerous, and examinations for such positions are most frequently held. 

Because of the rigid rules governing increases in salary and advance- 
ment in grade, promotion in the case of energetic and exceptional capable 
people often is not so rapid as it would be in private enterprises, but em- 
ployment in the Civil Service generally is sure for persons who properly 
attend to their duties. 

Many of the positions in the Civil Service are open to both men and 
women. 

There are in the City many schools which make a specialty of coaching 
and instructing persons who desire to take Civil Service examinations. 
These schools are conducted by private individuals and charge for the 
instruction given. None of the schools have any official connection with 
the Municipal, State or Federal governments. They merely give appli- 
cants the benefit of their special knowledge and experience. Many of 
these schools advertise in the New York papers. 

Two weekly papers dealing entirely with Civil Service matters are 
published in New York City. These papers give complete detailed infor- 
mation regarding Civil Service examinations in all branches. They also 
publish text books giving useful information as to vaiious examinations. 

SOME NEW YORK STATE LAWS SAFEGUARDING 
THE INTERESTS OF EMPLOYEES 

The New York State laws referred to below are, of course, effective 
in the City of New York. 

In all parts of the State of New York eight hours constitute a legal 
day's work for almost all classes of employees. Exceptions are made with 
regard to farm and domestic laborers, employees of steam and electric 
railways, grocery clerks, drug clerks and employees in brickyards. There 
is, of course, no provision against overtime work for extra compensation. 

The New York State laws provide that women shall not be employed 
in mercantile establishments or factories more than six days or more 
than fifty-four hours in any one week, or more than nine hours in any one 
day. Women may, however, be employed 10 hours per day for not more 
than five days per week in order to make a short clay or holiday on one of 
the six working days of the week, or irregularly in not more than three 
days per week. Special provision is made for longer hours of work by 
women employed in the canning industries between June 15th and 
October 15th. 

No child under the age of fourteen years may be employed in factories 
or mercantile establishments in the State of New York. Children under 
the age of sixteen years are required to obtain employment certificates 
before they may be employed in any mercantile establishment or factory. 
Such employment certificates are issued by the health authorities of the 
village, town or city in which the child resides. Certificates are issued 
only after the authorities have satisfied themselves as to the child's age, 



Practical Facts About New York 



physical fitness and education. The law provides that children under 
sixteen years of age may not be employed more than eight hours per day, 
or before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. of any day. Before and after school hours, 
boys over twelve years of age may be employed to carry and distribute 
newspapers. 

AH the factories in the State of New York are carefully inspected to 
see that the rigid State laws as to fire protection, sanitary conditions, 
ventilation, etc., are properly observed. 

In New York State employees are preferred creditors in the distribu- 
tion of assets under assignments. Such preference is given to wages or 
salaries due to employees at the time of the execution of the assignment, 
for services rendered within three months previous to the execution, but 
not in excess of $300.00 to each employee. 

There are State laws governing the actions of persons, firms or corpora- 
tions engaged in the business of loaning money to employees on account 
of salary or wages to be earned in the future, or on personal effects. The 
rates of interest which may be charged for such loans also are fixed by law. 

The following are the Public Holidays in New York State: 

New Year's Day January 1st. 

Lincoln's Birthday February 12th. 

Washington's Birthday February 22nd. 

Memorial or Decoration Day . . . May 30th. 

Independence Day July 4th. 

Labor Day The first Monday in September. 

Columbus Day October 12th. 

Election Day The first Tuesday after the first 

Monday in November. 
Thanksgiving Day Designated by the President — 

last Thursday in November. 
Christmas Day December 25th. 

When any of these days (except, of course. Election Day and Thanks- 
giving Day) fall on a Sunday the following Monday generally is observed 
as a holiday. 

Employers who do not observe Election Day as a holiday are required 
by law to grant their male employees of voting age two houis in which to 
vote. 

There is in force in the State of New York a Workmen's Compensation 
Law. This law provides that under certain conditions, individuals, firms 
and corporations employing men and women in hazardous occupations 
must pay certain specified amounts to any of their employees who are 
accidentally injured in the discharge of duty, or to the relatives or depen- 
dents of any employee who dies as the result of accidental injuries so re- 
ceived. No compensation is allowed, however, when the injury results 
from the willful intention of the injured employee to bring about the injury 
or death of himself or of another, or where the injury results solely from 
the intoxication of the injured employee while on duty. 

The various hazardous employments, of which there are about 42 
groups, including almost all lines of railroad work, manufacturing, con- 



28 Practical Facts About New York 

struction work, etc., are specified. The amounts to be paid for all injuries, 
as well as the amounts to be paid to relatives or dependents in the event 
of death, are also specified in detail. 

When an employer and his employees agree to the compensation plan 
and the employer fulfills his obUgations under the act, the employees are 
obUged to take compensation as provided by the act. If, however, there 
is no such agreement, and the employer has failed to insure compensation 
to his employees as outlined in the act, then any of his employees who 
are injured in the course of their employment have the right either to claim 
compensation under the act or to sue for damages at common law. 

There is also an Employer's Liability Law, which indicates the grounds 
on which employers are liable for injuries to employees resulting from 
defective machinery or negligence; indicates methods of providing insur- 
ance, or generally outlines the various obligations of employers. 

It was the aim of the framers of these laws to make them as fair as 
possible to both employees and employer. Before these laws went into 
effect an employee accidentally injured in the course of his employment 
either had to accept whatever his employer considered wise to offer in 
settlement or had to take his case to the courts. The latter course often 
was expensive and uncertain, because of the legal technicalities and also 
because the employer generally could retain more capable counsel than 
the employee. 




Practical Facts About New York 29 

IV. 

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED IN THE CITY 

At an annual expense of many millions of dollars, the City of New York 
offers to all its residents free educational opportunities that are unsurpassed 
anywhere in the world. There is given below a brief outline of the scope 
of the City's free educational system, from which outline it will be seen 
that ambitious people, by taking advantage of the generous facilities 
offered by the City, can obtain even a college education without expendi- 
ture for tuition. Aside from the numerous free educational opportunities 
offered by the City itself, there are in New York many privately controlled 
institutions which offer free educational opportunities. In addition, there 
are institutions such as the Young Men's Christian Association and Young 
Women's Christian Association which offer many helpful courses of study 
in the day and evening at very moderate tuition fees. It is hardly necessary 
to mention that New York City is well supplied with colleges and private 
schools and academies of every description offering instruction or training 
in all branches of learning, in the sciences, arts, crafts and trades. 

The Department of Education of the City of New York has supervision 
over the following free educational activities: 

Kindergarten and Elementary Schools 

The Kindergartens receive children between the ages of four and six 
years. The elementary schools receive children who are six years or over. 
In addition to the usual elementary subjects, in certain classes of the 
elementary schools instruction is given in music, sewing, cooking and 
modern languages. In some of the schools there are separate classes for 
children who are mentally defective, blind, deaf, crippled or defective 
in speech. In these classes children who are laboring under any of the 
handicaps mentioned are systematically instructed by teachers trained 
in handling such children. In this way much is done by the City to help 
develop and educate children so afflicted. For mentally defective children 
a farm school is conducted on one of the smaller islands near the City. 
There are also open air classes for anemic and tuberculous children. 

Evening sessions also are held at the elementary schools. To these 
sessions boys and girls and men and women are admitted. No person is 
admitted to an evening school unless his age or occupation is such as to 
prevent attendance at a day school. In the evening the hours are from 
8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for men and boys and from 7 :45 p.m. to 9 :45 p.m. for women 
and girls, four nights a week with the exception of Friday and Saturday. 
The subjects taught are English (including reading, spelling, meaning and 
use of words, and composition), arithmetic and other common branches, 
also penmanship, bookkeeping, stenography, drawing, sewing, millinery, 
dressmaking and cooking. 

During the summer vacation season a number of the elementary public 
schools in various sections of the City are kept open for the purpose of 



30 Practical Facts About New York 

supplementing the work of the regular school season. In these ^ acation 
Schools classes known as "Opportunity Classes" are conducted. In these 
classes instruction is given to pupils who are backward in their studies 
during the regular school season; to foreign pupils who need help in 
English; to pupils who must complete a certain period of attendance at 
the elementary pubhc schools in order to obtain an employment certifi- 
cate, and pupils who receive high marks during the regular school season 
and desire to continue their studies. The usual elementary subjects are 
taught in the Vacation Schools. 

Vocational Schools 

The object of these schools is to train boys for positions in the trades 
and for industrial work generally. Instruction usually is given in the 
daytime, although one of the vocational schools has evening sessions. 
Boys who have graduated from the elementary schools are ehgible for 
admission to the vocational schools on the presentation of their graduation 
cards. Boys over 14 years who have not graduated are admitted under 
certain conditions. The following are some of the trade subjects in which 
instruction and training are given: Woodwork, Machine Shop Practice, 
Sheet Metal Work, Electric Work, Mechanical Drawing, Printing, etc. 

There is also a trade school for girls, which is open to graduates of the 
elementary schools or girls who are over 14 years old and who have 
received a certain amount of elementary instruction. This school 
has day and evening sessions. Training is offered in the following trades: 
Dressmaking, Millinery, Clothing Machine Operating, Straw Machine 
Operating, Embroidery Machine Operating, Sample Mounting, Xovelty 
Work, Lamp Shade Making. In connection with the training for the 
trades mentioned the girls also receive practice in Designing and Perforating 
for Embroidery, Drawing and Costume Designing, Cooking, Physical 
Training, Business Arithmetic and Accounts, Business English, Textiles, 
Industrial Conditions and Trade Ethics. 

High Schools and Trade Schools 

After having completed their studies in the elementary schools pupils 
are eligible for admission to the City's free high schools. The high schools 
also receive pupils who have completed in schools not under the control 
of the Board of Education an eight-year elementary course substantially 
equivalent to the course in the City's elementary schools. Applicants over 
21 years of age are referred to the superintendent in charge of high schools 
for permission to attend. Among the subjects taken up in the general 
four year course given in the High Schools of the City are the following : 
English, Latin, German and French, Mathematics, including Algebra, 
Plane Geometry and advanced mathematics, Science, including Biology, 
Botany, Zoology and Physiology, Physics and Chemistry, Drawing, 
History — Ancient and Modern — Music, Physical Training, as well as 
various special subjects. Some of the Public High Schools give special 



Practical Facts About \ew Yonv. 31 

courses in commercial subjects and others give special courses in manual 
training and technical branches. 

Trades are taught in various public school buildings. To the evening 
trade schools "those only are admitted who are not in attendance at any 
day school and who are employed during the day at the trade in which 
they desire instruction." The following trades are taught in these schools: 
Carpentry, Joinery, Cabinet Making, Pattern Making, Blacksmithing, 
Plumbing, Machine Shop Work, Printing and Typesetting, Linotype 
Operating, Steam Engineering, Electric Wiring and Installation, Tile- 
Laying, Dressmaking, Millinery and Domestic Science, and instruction 
also is given in Mathematics, Free-hand, Architectural and Mechanical 
Drawing, Machine Design, Apphed Electricity, Industrial Chemistry, 
AppUed Physics, etc. 

A school known as the New York Evening School of Industrial Art 
offers "free instruction in branches of drawing and design as the latter 
are applied to the various industries." The school is intended especially 
for men and women who desire instruction and practice in decorative art 
work. Instruction is given in Book Illustration, Costume Design, Elemen- 
tary Drawing, Advanced Drawing, Interior Decoration, Jewelry Design, 
Modeling and Sculpture, Mural Decoration, Poster and Advertising Design, 
Principles of Design, Stained Glass Design and Textile Design. Applicants 
are required to demonstrate their fitness for the special training they desire 
to undertake. 

Training Schools for Teachers 

These schools are open to both sexes. There are three such schools 
in the City. Their function is to train young men and women to become 
teachers in the City's elementary schools. Candidates for admission 
must be at least 163/^ years of age at the time of entrance and must declare 
their intention to prepare for teaching in the public schools of the State 
of New York. Before being eligible for admission to a Teachers' Training 
School a candidate must hold at least "a diploma of graduation from a 
high school or academy having a four years' course of study approved by 
the State Commissioner of Education, or a diploma from an institution 
of higher rank approved by the same authority." Each appUcant for 
admission to a teachers' training school must present a certificate signed 
by the principal of the high school from which he or she graduated, to the 
effect that the apphcant is fitted by character and disposition to properly 
perform the duties of a teacher. When notified to do so, candidates must 
report for a physical examination to one of the physicians appointed by 
the Board of Education of the City of New York. In these schools instruc- 
tion is given in the daytime. 

Hunters College 

This college is open to women only. " It receives as students all appli- 
cants who are residents of any of the boroughs of Greater New York, 
and who can meet the requirements for admission. The College provides 



32 Practical Facts About New York 

a four years' academic course which is based upon a four years' high school 
course and leads to the degree of A.B. One of the chief purposes of the 
institution is to encourage young women having a liberal college education 
to engage in the work of teaching in elementary and secondary schools." 
Candidates for admission to Hunters College must either pass its entrance 
examinations or present credentials such as high or preparatory school 
diplomas, indicating that they have covered the subjects required. There 
are no evening sessions at Hunters College. 

College of the City of New York 

This college is a free institution maintained by the City of New York 
for the higher education of the young men of the City. The following is 
quoted from the bulletin of the college: 

"The College offers two general courses of study, one leading to the 
degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), the latter leading to the degree of 
Bachelor of Science (B.S.). These general courses are designed to give a 
thorough college training on broad and liberal lines; to give the student 
in the upper classes an opportunity to follow a well-defined group of 
subjects leading toward a definitely chosen hfe work; to qualify him for 
entering with advanced standing a professional or technical school upon 
graduation from the College; and to furnish him with a thorough training 
in those technological branches for which the science departments are 
well equipped." 

The activities of the College include: 

College of Arts and Science, Day Session. 
College of Arts and Science, Night Session. 
College Extension Course for Teachers. 
College Preparatory High School. 

The same ground is covered in the Evening Session as in the Day 
Session, and the rules for admission, courses, credits and discipline are the 
same for both. The professors and instructors for the Evening Session 
are drawn from the regular College staff. Because the hours available 
for work in the evening are fewer, it takes longer to secure a degree in 
the evening. 

The College Extension Courses for Teachers were organized "to assist 
the teachers of the City to extend their culture and to secure the additional 
knowledge and skill necessary to obtain higher licenses." 

The College Preparatory School accepts as students boys graduating 
from the Elementary Schools of the City of New York. 

Entrance to the College may be had by passing the entrance examina- 
tions, or "(1) by presenting certificates from the New York City High 
Schools or from other accepted High Schools, (2) by presenting a College En- 
trance Diploma issued by the New York State Education Department, or 
(3) by presenting certificates of the College Entrance Examination Board." 

As the result of a resolution of the Board of Trustees of the College, 
men who are not regularly enrolled in the College may be admitted to 



Practical Facts About New York 33 

any particular course or courses which they may choose. This special 
privilege is open to male students, twenty-one years or over, who are actual 
residents of New York City. Candidates are required to meet in full the 
regular entrance requirements of the College, and the officials of the College 
must be satisfied that such students are fully equipped to take up the course 
or courses chosen. 

Vacation Playgrounds 

The Department of Education eJso has charge of the vacation play- 
grounds of the City. There are some 200 of such playgrounds, including 
indoor, open air and mothers' and babies' playgrounds. These playgrounds 
generally are in charge of teachers employed by the City, who supervise 
the activities of the children and instruct them in games, athletic exercises, 
folk dances, etc. For the smaller children there are swings, slides and sand 
piles. In the indoor playgrounds there are game rooms where the children 
can play checkers and other games. 

Recreation Centers 

Within recent years certain of the public schools of the City have been 
used as recreation centers in the evening, especially in the congested dis- 
tricts. In these centers are conducted gymnastic and athletic classes, 
as well as classes in dancing for both men and women. Game rooms, read- 
ing rooms and meeting rooms for clubs also are provided. The activities 
at these centers are supervised by teachers in the employ of the City. 



Public Libraries, Museums and Lectures 

The public libraries and museums of the City offer opportunities for 
research and study unequalled anywhere in the United States, and the 
public lectures, which are given under the direction of the Department 
of Education, are another of the City's important educational features. 
General information regarding public libraries, museums and lectures 
will be found below. 

Public Libraries 

The New York Public Library (a corporation which controls the free 
public libraries in the Boroughs of ^Ianhattan, The Bronx and Richmond) 
has a large central building and more than forty branches. At present 
the corporation owns more than 2,400,000 books, including many valu- 
able volumes. The Central Building of the New York Public Library is 
a magnificent white marble structure located in the heart of the Borough 
of Manhattan. This great building contains almost 1,000,000 books and 
more than 300,000 pamphlets. The Main Reading Room is a vast room 
which can accommodate hundreds of readers. In addition to the Main 



34 Practical Facts About New York 

Reading Room the Central Building has various rooms set aside for special 
purposes. There is a large Picture Gallery, containing many fine oil 
paintings, rare prints, etchings and other works of art; an American History 
Room, where many rare and valuable volumes, pamphlets, maps, etc., 
may be consulted; a Map Room, containing a wide assortment of maps; 
a Geneology and Local History Room, containing numerous valuable 
geneological books as well as books deahng with the local history of New 
York and other states; a Manuscript Room, in which are displayed the 
original manuscripts of great American authors and statesmen; a Music 
Room; a Public Document Room, containing a great number of documents 
and books published by various municipalities, states and by the United 
States Government; a Patent Room, containing records of American and 
foreign patents; a room devoted to books on Science; a room in which 
are kept books on technical subjects; a Periodical Room; a Newspaper 
Room, with files of hundreds of American and foreign papers; a Children's 
Room ; a room for books on economics and sociology ; an Oriental Literature 
Room; a Jewish Literature Room; a Slavonic Literature Room; a "reading" 
room for the blind, where persons so afflicted have an opportunity of 
"reading" from raised letters — and various other special rooms. The 
Central Building also has a wide selection of books in foreign languages. 
The books contained in the various rooms are for reference purposes 
only and are not loaned to readers to take out of the Library. 

The Central Building also has a Circulation Department where books 
may be borrowed by members. 

The Main Reading Room and certain of the other rooms of the Central 
Building are open every day of the year, on week days from 9 a.m. to 10 
p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

Each of the Branch Libraries contains a wide assortment of books, 
including text books, reference books, histories, biographies, technical 
books, books on all branches of learning — the fine arts, the useful arts, 
philosophy, travel, works of fiction — and books in foreign languages. 
The branch libraries vary in size, some containing from 8,000 to 10,000 
volumes and others as many as 25,000 or 30,000 volumes. Separate 
departments for adults and children are maintained in the branch libraries. 

Branch libraries are open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on week days, and some " 
branches are open on all holidays. 

Persons with a home or business address in the City have the privilege 
of borrowing books of the New York Public Library. Applicants for library 
caids entitling them to borrow books must fill out a blank form with 
particulars as to name, residence, etc., and must give the name of a respon- 
sible person to whom the libraiy can refer. A library card entitles the 
holder to take out books in any of the branch libraries as well as in the 
Central Building. There is no charge whatever in connection with the 
joining of a public library or the taking out of books. When books are 
kept longer than the allotted two weeks small fines are imposed. Many 
books are renewable for an additional two weeks without charge. 

The Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens each have separate Public 
Library Systems similar in most respects to the New York Public Library, 



Practical Facts About New York 35 

The Brooklyn Public Library has a large Main Heading Room and more 
than thirty branches. The Queens PubUc Library has about twenty 
branches. The requirements for joining these libraries, hours, etc., are 
in general similar to those of the New York Public Library. 

In addition to the free Pubhc Libraries referred to, there are in all the 
boroughs numerous free libraries and reading rooms maintained by private 
individuals or by charitable or benevolent institutions. 

Museums 

There aie a number of historic, scientific and art museums located in 
various parts of the City. Some of the historic old mansions in the City 
have been converted into museums for the display of Revolutionary reUcs. 
The two largest museums are The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the 
American Museum of Natural History, both immense institutions contain- 
ing millions of dollars worth of exhibits. To make a careful examination 
of the objects displayed in these museums would require months of time. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a veritable treasure house of rare 
and valuable works of art of every description. It contains priceless 
paintings, large collections of ancient and modern sculpture, porcelains, 
pottery, gems and jewelry, miniatures, ivory work, tapestries, enamels, 
Egyptian, Grecian, Roman and other ancient art works, various kind of 
decorative art works, exhibitions of arms and armor, and many other art 
treasures. The Museum also has a library containing about 70,000 books 
and photographs. Occasionally large private collections of art treasures 
are loaned to the Museum to be exhibited for the benefit of the public. 
The Museum is maintained principally by endowments and donations of 
private individuals and by money appropriated by the City. The affairs 
of the Museum are managed by a Board of Directors, of which the Mayor, 
the Comptroller and the President of the Park Board of the City are ex- 
officio members. The Museum is open week days and Sundays. Admis- 
sion is free except on Mondays and Fridays. On these days 25 cents admis- 
sion is charged. 

The American Museum of Natural History contains extensive collec- 
tions of insects, birds, fish and animals of all kinds, as well as collections 
of minerals and meteorites, implements used by the savages of all countries, 
and various other interesting collections. Numerous expeditions to all 
parts of the world are sent out by the Museum in order to make explora- 
tions and obtain specimens. The Museum is managed and maintained 
in much the same way as the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is open 
to visitors on week days and Sundays. Admission is free at all times. 

Public Lectures 

Free Public Lectures are given under the direction of the Department 
of Education from October 1st to May 1st, in the Public Schools, Libraries 
and in other buildings offered or rented for that purpose. They are, of 
course, given in the evening. Some of the lectures are scholarly talks, 



36 Practical Facts About New York 

others are illustrated with colored sUdes and some are illustrated with 
moving pictures. For the benefit of foreigners who do not understand 
English, lectures also are given in German, ItaUan and Yiddish. 

The following figures, taken from the report of the Supervisor of 
Lectures for the year 1914-1915, will convey some idea of the scope of 
this work: 

"Lectures were delivered in 176 centers, by 771 lecturers speaking on 
1,840 topics, before 5,515 audiences. The total attendance was 1,295,907, 
an average of 235 per lecture." 

The subjects on which lectures were given are too numerous to detail 
here. In might be stated, however, that the topics discussed included the 
Fine Arts, Literature, History, Social Subjects, Astronomy, Physics, 
Chemistry, Geology, Biology, First Aid to the Injured, Prevention of 
Tuberculosis and other health topics. Industries, and Geography, embrac- 
ing aU parts of the world. 

Numerous free lectures also are given at various benevolent and other 
institutions in the City. 



The special mention of the following educational institutions, which 
are not part of the pubhc school system of the City, should not be inter- 
preted to mean that there are not many other educational institutions 
in New York City maintaining standards just as high. These institutions 
are specially mentioned because they present unusual features: 

Cooper Union 

This is one of the most interesting and valuable educational institu- 
tions in New York City. It was founded in 1859 by the well-known 
philanthropist, Peter Cooper, for the advancement of science and art. 
Its affairs are conducted by a Board of Trustees. Cooper Union offers 
instruction free, but students are required to supply their own books, 
drawing materials, etc. Students in the technical branches also are required 
to make deposits not exceeding $10.00 per annum to cover the use of chem- 
icals and breakage of apparatus in the Chemical and Testing Laboratories. 
Cooper Union confers the degree of Bachelor of Science and also awards 
diplomas for the successful completion of the various courses given. The 
school conducts the following: 

A Free Day School of Technical Science, in which is given a four years' 
course of study "which is designed with reference to the needs of students 
(both male and female) who intend to follow Civil, Mechanical or Electrical 
Engineering. The instruction is given by lectures, recitations and lab- 
oratory work." 

A Free Night School of Science, in which are given "a five-year course 
in General Science (Civil and Mechanical Engineering), a six-year course 
in Chemistry, a five-year course in Electrical Engineering, a three-year 
course in Mechanical Drawing." 



Practical Facts About New York 3T 

(Applicants for admission to the Day and Night Schools of Science 
must be at least sixteen years of age and must pass the entrance examina- 
tions of the school. Application for admission may be made by mail or 
in person, beginning January 11th and ending September 11th each year.) 

A Night School of Art, offering instruction and training in the follow- 
ing: Free-hand Drawing, Modeling, Decorative Design, Architectural 
Drawing. Applicants for admission must be at least 16 years of age. 
Women are admitted to the class in the Architectural Department. 

A Woman's Art School, in which instruction is given in the day time. 
Applicants must be at least 16 years old and not over 35. 

A Day School of Stenography for Women. 

A Day School of Telegraphy for Women. 

A Night Class in Elocution for Men and Women. 

A Night Class in Oratory and Debate for Men. 

Students at Cooper Union need not be residents of New York City. 

No arrangement is made for the care of students except during school hours. 

The various classes usually are crowded to capacity, and there is 
generally a waiting list. 

Cooper Union also has a free reading room and library, as well as a 
large lecture hall. 

Columbia University 

The grounds and numerous imposing buildings of Columbia University 
are located on Morningside Heights, one of the best residential sections of 
New York City, and aie easy of access by subway and surface cars. Colum- 
bia University is one of the largest educational institutions in the United 
States and has a larger student body than any other university. The 
University is composed of various colleges and schools, among which are 
Columbia College for men and Barnard College for Women, a Faculty 
of Fine Arts, Faculties of Political Science, Philosophy and Pure Science, 
a School of Law, a College of Physicians and Surgeons, a College of Phar- 
macy, a School of Mines, Engineering and Chemistry, a School of Jour- 
nahsm and a Teachers' College; it trains students for entrance to the differ- 
ent professions and confers various degrees. In addition to the regular 
full time courses the University has evening classes, known as Extension 
Teaching classes, summer sessions and an Institute of Arts and Sciences. 
The annual tuition fees for the regular full time courses range from $150.00 
to S250.00 per annum. Excellent living accommodations can be had in 
the dormitories of the University for $300.00 for the academic year. For 
instruction during the summer sessions and in the evening the tuition fees 
are. of course, considerably less. 

Courses in Extension Teaching are offered to men and women who can 
give only a portion of their time to study. Extension Teaching is defined 
by the statutes of the University as 

" * * * instruction given by the University ofBcers under the adminis- 
trative supervision and control of the University, either away from the 
University buildings, or at the University, for the benefit of students 
unable to attend the regular courses of instruction." 



38 Practical Facts About New York 

The following is quoted from the bulletin of the University on Exten- 
sion Teaching: 

"Courses in Extension Teaching are planned for two classes of 
students — first, men and women who can give only a portion of their time 
to study and who desire to pursue subjects included in a liberal education 
of the character and grade of a college or professional school, but without 
any reference to academic degree — second, those who look forward to 
qualifying themselves to obtain in the future academic recognition, 
involving acceptance of the work which they may satisfactorily complete 
in Extension Teaching." 

Extension Teaching courses are given in the afternoon and in the 
evening after working hours. No examination is required for admission 
to courses offered in Extension Teaching, but the instructors must be 
satisfied that students can pursue the courses with advantage. The 
courses cover a great variety of subjects, ranging from higher mathematics, 
the dead languages and other difficult subjects, to bookkeeping, stenog- 
raphy and typewriting. Some idea can be obtained of the importance 
of the Extension Teaching work and of the great variety of subjects covered 
when it is pointed out that this work alone requires almost 200 instructors. 

The Institute of Arts and Sciences is a branch of the Extension Teach- 
ing Department of Columbia University and "affords wise and systematic 
use of leisure time for men and women who desire to keep abreast of the 
best in current thought through popular lectures." The program of the 
Institute includes about 250 lectures, concerts, dramatic recitals, etc., 
which are given in the various auditoriums in the University buildings 
almost every afternoon and evening from October to April of each year. 
The lecturers are men of recognized scholastic standing and abiUty and 
some of them are of national and international renown. Lectures are 
given in Literature, Science, Music, Social Science, Travel, Art, Archi- 
tecture and Drama. The payment in advance of $10.00 annual dues en- 
titles a member to attend all the lectures. At the afternoon sessions 
only one person is admitted on a ticket, but in the evening each ticket 
admits two. An enrollment fee of $5.00 must be paid upon joining the 
Institute, but when membership is continued from year to year no addi- 
tional enrollment fees are required. There are no entrance requirements, 
as no academic credit is given for attendance at the lectures. 

New York University 

This is another large institution for higher education in New York 
City. New York University has a large plot of ground in a section of the 
Borough of the Bronx known as University Heights. Here are located 
the College of Arts and Pure Science and the School of Applied Science 
of the University, the dormitories, gymnasium, campus and athletic 
field. The University also has a large building on Washington Square, 
in the lower part of Manhattan Island, where it carries on educational 
work. At Washington Square are the Washington Square College, which 



Practical Facts About New York 39 

conducts collegiate work similar to that olt'ered at Lniversity Heights; 
a School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance, containing a Department of 
Journalism; a School of Pedagogy; a School of Law and a Graduate 
School. The University also has a Medical College and a Veterinary Col- 
lege located in another part of Manhattan. In the various schools at 
Washington Square, in addition to the morning and afternoon classes, 
instruction is given in the evening for the benefit of students who are em- 
ployed during the day. The tuition fees and rentals for rooms charged 
by the University are very moderate. Various degrees and certificates 
are conferred by the University as the result of work done by students 
in the different Departments and Schools. 

The courses of study of the public and private educational institu- 
tions in New York State are supervised by The University of the State 
of New York, which is part of the New York State Department of Educa- 
tion, and is under the direction of a Board of Regents and the State 
Commissioner of Education, who is also President of the University of the 
State of New York. In January and June of each year examinations are 
held in the schools throughout the State along lines indicated by the 
University of the State of New York in order to test the fitness of the stu- 
dents for advancement. The University also holds periodical examinations, 
known as Regents' Examinations, for students desiring Academic Dip- 
lomas. College Entrance Diplomas and Certificates. Usually the holders 
of College Entrance Diplomas and Certificates may enter any of the col- 
leges in the State without taking the customary entrance examinations. 
In January and June of each year examinations are held in New York City 
for students who desire to obtain the Qualifying Certificates issued by the 
L'niversity. These certificates entitle the holder to admission to the study 
of the various professions (medicine, dentistry, law, pharmacy, optometry, 
veterinary science, accountancy, nurse training, chiropody and reporting) 
and for admission to certain professional and technical schools. Applicants 
for admission to the latter examinations who are twenty-one years of 
age or over are not questioned relative to their preparation, but younger 
applicants must show that they are satisfactorily prepared to take 
the examinations. 

To students of music and music lovers New York City has much to 
offer, both in the way of instruction and in the way of opportunities for 
enjoying good music. Of musical colleges and schools, giving instruction in 
all branches of the art, there are a considerable number. The Metropolitan 
Opera House, in which each season are given many of the well-known 
operas, is perhaps the greatest attraction in the City for lovers of good 
music. Almost all of the great operatic stars in the world appear at the 
Metropolitan Opera House from time to time. Famous singers from all 
parts of the world also give concerts and song recitals in the numerous 
halls and auditoriums. In the large churches of all denominations the 
very best choir singing and organ recitals can be heard, and many public 
organ recitals are given under the auspices of the Board of Education of 
the City of New York. Various glee clubs and singing societies offer 
entertaining programs from time to time. Most of the world's famous 



40 Practical Facts About New York 

violinists, celloists, pianists and other instrumental artists find their way 
to New York each year, and New Yorkers also have frequent opportunities 
of hearing the best band and orchestral music. 

The foregoing gives only the barest outline of the more important 
educational opportunities offered in New York City. Residence in New 
York carries with it many exceptional opportunities for self-improvement 
and education which are not easily classified. There are, for instance, 
large expositions, such as the Electrical Show, Automobile Show and various 
other expositions in the technical and mechanical fines; Business Shows, 
Flower Shows, and many others, where persons interested in special lines 
may see the latest developments and keep abreast of the times; lectures 
and addresses of prominent men and women who visit the City; the ser- 
mons of prominent resident and visiting ministers of aU denominations, 
and numerous other educational opportunities seldom to be enjoyed in 
small communities. 




Practical Facts About New York 41 



V. 

CHARITABLE AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS, 
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 

To enumerate and explain the activities of the many public institu- 
tions and private organizations and societies engaged in charitable and 
philanthropic work in New York City would require a laige volume, and 
therefore only a very general idea of their scope can here be given. 

Millions of dollars are expended each year by the City and by private 
individuals and societies to alleviate human suffering, safeguard life, care 
for the sick and unfortunate, add to the comfort and happiness of the poor 
and help the poor to help themselves. 

The Department of Public Charities of the City of New York has the 
management of numerous charitable institutions, including five large 
general hospitals, a hospital and schools for feeble-minded and epileptic 
children, a home for convalescent mothers, homes for the aged and infirm, 
a colony for homeless men and a free Municipal Lodging House. In the 
Municipal Lodging House (which, with its annex, can accommodate more 
than 2,500 people) homeless men and women are given shelter for the 
night and supplied with supper and breakfast. The special needs of appHc- 
ants are examined into and where possible aid is rendered. Much of the 
routine work of the institution, such as dish washing, window washing, 
laundry work, waiting, etc., is done by applicants in return for temporary 
board and lodging. Appficants who are skilled workers are sometimes 
temporarily employed in the various shops connected with the Lodging 
House. In return for their services such applicants receive temporary 
board and lodging and are granted certain privileges. The barber shop, 
cobbler shop, tailor shop and other similar facilities offered by the Lodging 
House afford applicants an opportunity of improving their personal 
appearance. Applicants who are found to be incapable of supporting 
themselves are sent by the officials in charge of the Lodging House to the 
various public institutions of the City which care for such people. 

The Department has a Bureau of Social Investigation which investigates 
the causes of poverty in the City and studies them for the purpose of im- 
proving conditions. The Department also supervises the expenditure of 
millions of dollars of public money which is paid to various private hos- 
pitals, sanitoriums and homes for the maintenance by them of public 
wards. 

The Department of Health of New York City, in addition to various 
other activities, has the management of five or six large free hospitals 
which are located in different parts of the City. These hospitals are 
principally for the care of persons afflicted with contagious and com- 
municable diseases. One important branch of the Department of Health 
is the Bureau of Laboratories, which does research work and produces 
various kinds of vaccines and serums for combating infectious diseases, 
and also conducts chemical and other experiments. To persons unable to 



42 Practical Facts About New York 

pay the department distributes antiserums and vaccines free of charge. 
All cases involving so-called contagious and infectious diseases must be 
reported to the Department of Health. Records of all births, marriages 
and deaths in the City are kept by this Department. Some of its other 
activities have been briefly outlined under Section II of this book. 

A City department known as the Department of Bellevue and Allied 
Hospitals has the management of a number of public hospitals located 
in different districts. These hospitals take care of emergency and accident 
cases in addition to doing general hospital work. 

In the poorer and congested districts a number of interior public 
baths are conducted by the City. These baths are open at all seasons of 
the year. There are more than 20 such baths. The newer ones are 
equipped with swimming pools and gymnasium facilities as well as with 
the usual shower baths. The public is admitted to most of these baths 
without charge, but in some charges of 1 cent for towel and 1 cent for soap 
are made. Men, women and children are admitted at stipulated hours. 
During the warm weather the City maintains various floating baths, as 
well as a large municipal bath for sea bathing at Coney Island. At the 
latter bath a charge of 10 cents is made for the use of a locker or room, 
and, of course, bathers must supply their own bathing suits. Certain of 
the public schools are equipped with swimming pools. 

The large churches of the City and various private benevolent 
organizations have estabUshed chapels and settlement houses in most of 
the poorer sections. The activities carried on in these institutions are 
many and varied, including, besides religious training, kindergarten work 
and instruction of children in useful arts, day nurseries, where poor women 
who are employed during the day may leave their children to be cared for. 
lectures, debates, savings clubs, instruction in gymnastics and dancing 
and various entertainments. These institutions are in charge of trained 
rehgious and social workers who often are assisted by volunteer workers. 

The wealthy citizens of the City, singly and coUectively, have been 
lavish in their donations for the support of benevolent institutions of all 
kinds. They have formed societies and associations to investigate the 
social, economic and reUgious problems of the City; they have founded 
libraries, lodging houses, working girls' clubs, day nurseries, milk stations, 
legal aid societies, clinics and numerous other institutions. 

One large building in the City, known as the United Charities Building, 
contains the headquarters of a number of charitable and benevolent organ- 
izations, among them being the Charity Organization Society and the 
New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, both large 
organizations which do general relief work of every description, are centers 
for social service, and in the carrying out of their work dispense hundreds 
of thousands of dollars each year. 

Young men and young women who are unacquainted with New York 
and without relatives or friends in the City will do well to get in touch 
with the Young Men's Christian Association or Young Women's Christian 
Association. Limited memberships in these associations, entitling one to 
the use of the library, reading rooms, and to admission to societies and clubs, 



Practical Facts About New York 43 

usually can be had for about S5.00 per annum; and full nipmbership, which 
includes the use of the gymnasium, swimming pool, shower baths, etc. 
generally can be had for from $10.00 to $15.00 per annum. There are 
about fifteen separate Y. iM. C. A. and about half a dozen Y. W. C. A. 
buildings located in various parts of the City. The difference in member- 
ship fees is accounted for by the fact that some of the branches are com- 
paratively small and cannot offer their members so many accommodations 
and advantages as can the larger branches. Many of the larger branches 
have restaurant facilities. These also have dormitories which in some 
instances can accommodate more than 250 people. The rentals charged 
for rooms in these dormitories usually are from $2.50 per week upward. 
The demand for such rooms is often greater than the supply. For the 
benefit of those who cannot be accommodated in the dormitories, lists 
of boarding houses located in the vicinity are kept at each branch. These 
boarding houses have been investigated and found to be thoroughly satis- 
factory. The officers in charge of these institutions take an interest in all 
members and help thera in every way possible. 

Two other associations doing work similar to the Y. M. C. A. and Y.W. 
C. A. are the Young IVIen's Hebrew Association and the Young Women's 
Hebrew Association. 

A society that renders valuable service to strangers who come to IVew 
York City, especially women and girls, is the Travelers' Aid Society. 
This is a large and influential organization which has branches in different 
parts of the country and enjoys the co-operation of many important persons 
and institutions. The Society's agents (both men and women) who are 
stationed at all the principal railway and steamship terminals in or near 
New York City, render aid to travelers by advising them how to reach 
various parts of the City, recommending reliable hotels and boarding 
houses, assisting persons who are traveling beyond the City in making 
proper connections with boats and trains, and by giving other valuable 
advice and assistance. The information clerks at the various railway 
and steamship terminals will direct any stranger to the Travelers' Aid 
Agents, who can be recognized by their official badges. The Society has 
a large building in New York City where travelers are temporarily cared 
for in emergencies. All the service rendered by the Society is absolutely 
free to everyone, regardless of race, creed or color. 

The City churches of every denomination welcome strangers, and the 
church meetings and socials offer opportunities for strangers in the City 
to form desirable acquaintances. 

All the larger fraternal orders and secret societies have branches or 
lodges in New York. 



44 Practical Facts About New York 

VI. 

DIVERSION, AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION 

No city in the world offers more in the way of diversion and amuse- 
ment than does New York, and few great cities offer so many opportunities 
for recreation, 

A walk or ride along the avenues of New York, which are always 
crowded with people and vehicles, and which are lined with handsome shops, 
is interesting and diverting to an observing person. The avenues offer 
a wonderful picture of life and activity, especially at night, when the electric 
signs are lit up and the shop windows illuminated, and when the people, 
finished with the day's work, are out for amusement. 

The public parks of the City also offer opportunities for recreation. 
The City contains almost 150 parks, which are scattered over its entire 
area. Some of these parks cover considerably less than an acre and others 
cover hundreds of acres. The largest park is Pelham Bay Park, which 
is located in the Borough of the Bronx, and which covers 1,756 acres. 
The larger parks are beautifully laid out, with winding driveways and 
paths, trees, shrubbery and flowers. Some of them also have picturesque 
lakes and ponds, on which boating is permitted in the summer and ice 
skating in the winter; zoological gardens, containing animals, birds and 
reptiles from all parts of the world; botanical gardens, in which arf dis- 
played hundreds of tropical and other plants and flowers; playgrounds for 
children, baseball grounds, croquet grounds, tennis courts, and one park 
has a public golf course. During the summer months free public concerts 
are given in many of the parks. 

As stated elsewhere. New York City is the greatest theatrical center 
in the world and has more theatres than any other city. In the theatrical 
district, in the Borough of Manhattan, on or near that section of F3road- 
way known as "The Great White Way," a large number of theatre's are 
crowded together. Most of these theatres offer only high grade attrac- 
tions. All of the theatres of the City are not, however, crowded in this 
section ; some of the other boroughs have well defined theatrical districts in 
which there are large theatres. All the popular American actors and a large 
number of prominent foreign actors appear in New York at intervals, and 
often many of them are playing in the City at the same time. Most 
of the successful plays, musical comedies and comic operas produced in 
this country first appear in New York for a number of months before 
going "on the road." The prices charged in the best grade theatres range 
from 50 cents for second balcony seats to $2.50 for box or front row 
orchestra seats. In the better class vaudeville theatres seats can be had 
for 25 cents and upwards to $1.50, and in the less attractive vaudeville 
and moving picture theatres seats can be had for from 10 cents to 25 
cents each. In all parts of the City there are also a great many small 
moving picture theatres to which admission can be had for 5 cents or 10 
cents. The City also contains various large halls suitable for expositions, 
shows and spectacular performances. These halls are used for automobile 
shows, horse shows, food shows, flower shows, and various other similar 



Practical Facts About New York 45 

attractions, as well as for such performances as the Circus and Wild 
West Show. Automobile, motorcycle and horse races are held at two or 
thiee of the large race tracks in New York. There are also various baseball 
parks and athletic fields where games and meets are held from time to 
time. Of golf courses and tennis courts there are a large number in and 
near the City. Boxing and wrestling matches may be seen almost nightly 
at the various athletic clubs. For those who enjoy bowling, billiards or 
pool there are many bowHng alleys and billiard and pool parlors. 

Many of the large hotels and restaurants have cabaret performances 
during dining hours for the entertainment of their guests. These perform- 
ances usually consist of music, singing, and dancing, and sometimes more 
than a dozen performers take part. Many of the large restaurants and 
hotels also have dancing floors for their patrons. 

During the summer months the hotels open their roof gardens, and 
some theatrical performances also are given on roof gardens. 

There are many fine salt-water bathing beaches in and near the City. 
These beaches afford great relief to New Yorkers during the warm weather. 
The famous Coney Island is within the City limits. This unquestionably 
is the world's greatest amusement center. Aside from the bathing to be 
had there. Coney Island offers innumerable amusement features; in fact, 
there are at least a couple of miles of avenue lined with all sorts of attrac- 
tions designed to amuse. Coney Island can be reached from all parts of 
New York City by subway, elevated railway or surface cars for from 5 
cents to 15 cents one way. Large automobile buses carry passengers to 
Coney Island from Manhattan for one dollar each way. During the 
summer months excursion steamers ply at frequent intervals between 
Manhattan and Coney Island. The fare charged is very moderate. The 
trip on these steamers is one of the most interesting short excursion trips 
to be had in the vicinity of New York. The boats pass down the Hudson 
River, where most of the great trans-Atlantic liners dock, and through 
Upper New York Bay, offering a magnificent view of the great cluster 
of skyscrapers on the south end of Manhattan Island, as well as of some 
of the great bridges over the East River, two or three forts, the Statue of 
Liberty, and various types of vessels. Nuineious pi<'asant excursion trips 
can be taken from New York at very moderate fares. Excursion trips up 
the Hudson River, which is famed the world over for its beautiful scenery, 
are run daily during the summer months. 

The fine roads in the vicinity of the City offer excellent automobiling. 
Trolley trips to picturesque and historic points outside the City are easily 
arranged, and various trolley guides outlining such trips are to be had at 
the news stands. 

Persons who enjoy fishing do not have to go far from New York to 
obtain excellent salt-water fishing. Bluefish, striped bass, weakfish, 
and a number of other attractive salt-water game and food fishes each 
summer visit the waters surrounding New York and furnish sport to 
thousands of anglers. For good fresh-water fishing New Yorkers must 
travel forty or fifty miles from the (>ity. Fair hunting for small game can 
be had at about the same distance from New York. 



46 Practical Facts About New York 



SOME INTERESTING FACTS AND FIGURES DEMONSTRATING 
THE GREATNESS OF NEW YORK CITY. 

The population of New York City exceeds the combined population 
of twelve American states. 

New York City contains more than 700,000 Germans and German- 
Americans, more than 560,000 Irish and Irish-Americans and more than 
530,000 Italians. There are about 900,000 Jews in the City. 

The City uses about 540,000,000 gallons of water per day, or more than 
100 gallons per day for each resident. 

About 100,000 people are employed by the City, including 23,000 
public school teachers, 10,600 pohcemen, 5,000 firemen and 7,000 street 
cleaners. The City payroll amounts to $100,000,000 per annum. 

To carry on the government of New York City one year more than 
$200,000,000 are required. 

The City's appropriation for educational purposes is in excess of $40,- 
000,000 per annum. 

More than 850,000 pupils of all grades receive instruction in the 550 
public schools of New York City. 

There are more than 103,000 apartment houses of all styles, types and 
grades in New York, each containing three or more families. 

The total number of passengers carried on all the street railways in 
New York City during the year ended June 30, 1916, was 1,898,735,615. 

There are 1,610 miles of street railway trackage in the City. 

Based on figures suppUed by the railroad and steamship companies 
having terminals in or near New York, it has been estimated that the City 
has about 300,000 visitors each day. 

The assessed value of the taxable property in New York City is about 
$8,500,000,000. 

In 1915 the market value of the stocks sold on the New York Stock 
Exchange was in excess of $12,660,000,000, and in former years the sales 
have sometimes exceeded $20,000,000,000. This aside from the market 
value of the bonds sold each year on the Exchange, which sometimes 
amounts to $1,000,000,000. 



Practical Facts About New York 17 

The daily clearing's at tlir New \ Oik ( leariiig llouso in 1915 amounted 
to about $300,000,000. 

About 46}/^% of the total foreign commerce of the United States passed 
through the Port of New York in 1915. 

The value of the foreign commerce of the Port of New York (imports 
and exports) exceeds $2,000,000,000 annually. For the fiscal year ended 
June 30, 1915, it amounted to more than $2,225,000,000. 

The amount of duty collected at the Port of New York in the fiscal 
year ended June 30, 1913, was $198,472,688— more than 63% of the 
total duty collected at all ports of the United States; during the fiscal 
year ended June 30, 1914, the amount of customs duty collected at the 
Port of New York was $192,270,819. or 67.77% of the total for all ports. 

The City of New York has a water front of more than 550 miles, 
about 45% of which is developed. 

More than 70% of the immigrants entering the United States pass 
through the Port of New York. 

New York City has within its borders more than 10% of the manu- 
facturing plants in the United States. 

To transact the business of the New York Post Office (which covers 
only the boroughs of Manhattan and The Bronx) 9,975 postal employees 
are required. 

Domestic and International money orders in the amount of $119,958,- 
797.67 were issued and paid during the fiscal year 1915. 

The total postal receipts of the New York Post Office for 1915 were 
§32,164,055.02 — more than 10% of the total postal receipts for the whole 
United States. 

There are more than 600,000 telephones in service in New York City. 

The highest buildings in the world are located in Manhattan. The 
Woolworth Building, which surmounts them all, is 790 feet high. There 
are many others ranging from 750 feet to 250 feet. 

New York has four of the largest bridges in the world, each over a mile 
long. The total cost of these four bridges (including cost of land purchased 
for approaches, etc.) is in the nieghborhood of $100,000,000. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



014 222 900 6 



